Electrical connecter



Dec. 27, 1932.

H. G. LAPS LEY ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed Oct. 18, 1929 Harm/R0 61 44/ 51 5V avwm co'c Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oar-ice HOWARD G. LAPBLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL DEVICES AND FITTINGS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Application. filed October 18, 1929. Serial No. 400,487.

This invention relates to electrical connecters and it has particular relation to connecters such as switches and fuses utilizing a blade arranged for enga ement with suitable contact jaws. Among t e objects of the invention is the connector of the foregoing type used for large power high current transmission and provided with simple, economical and highly efi'ective means for increasing the contact pressure between the blade an the contact aws.

The'capacity of electrical connecters of the blade type is limited by the contact resistance between the bla e and jaws. Through m invention I secure a very great decrease o the contact resistance thereb drop in t e connecter, an at the same time increasing the capacity of a connecter of a given size.

The object of the invention will be best understood from the following description of an exem lification thereof, reference being had to the accompan ing drawing wherein Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a sirliigle throw switch embodying the invention; ig. 2 is. a top view of the switch of Fig. 1 with the blade shown in en gement with the jaws; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of Fig. 2.

In the drawing there is shown a single throw disconnectmg switch comprising a switch blade 1 which is pivotally mounted on a post 2. The blade is arranged to be brought into engagement with the stationary contact member 8 made of a. pair of resilient jaws ada ted to engage the opposite sides of the bla e 1. The stationary contact member 3 has on the outer side directly underneath the space adapted to receive the blade, a catch 4 arranged to be engaged with a correspondin hook of a lock 6 mounted on the end of the switch blade.

In order to increase the contact pressure between the blade and the contact jaws, there aremountednear the end of the bladel four rectangular supporting blocks 7, in two pairs, so that the members of each pair are at opposite ends of the jaws 3 when the switch is closed. Each pair of blocks 7 is fastened to the blade by a bolt 8 and a nut 9, leaf sprin 10 being interposed on the outer sides of tfi: blocks so that the blocks are free to yield to a limited extent. The pairs of blocks are separated from each other by a suflicient distance so as to permit the blade to freely enter between the jaws.

On each side of the blade 1 there are mounted between the opposite blocks, shafts 11, and on these shafts are rotatably mounted cylinders or rollers 12. The arrangement is such that, when the blade is moved into engagement with the jaws, the jaws will enter into the spaces between the blade and the rollers 12, being wed ed into contact with the y blade and being held under pressure against decreasing the loss of energy and the voltage the blade sides by the action of the leaf springs 10. This action is facilitated throu h the rotatable mounting of the rollers 12, t e

rollers turning as the blade moves into theaws.

Instead of using separate rollers mounted on the shafts, the'shafts themselves may be so shapecland arranged as to act directly on the jaws, 1n which case the shafts are mounted rotatably within the supporting blocks.

The invention is not limited to switches using a single blade, but is generally applicable to devices using one or several blades making contact with jaws adapted to embrace the blade. In all such arrangements, the invention provides a simple means readily mounted on any of the usual blade type connecters, whereby the contact resistance between the blades and the jaws may be reduced to a fraction of what it would be otherwise.

My invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangements described hereinabove, but is susceptible of g many other modifications that will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is accordingly desired that the appended claims be given a broad construction coinmensurate with the scope of the invention within the art.

I claim: v 1. In an electrical connecter, a contact member having a pair of contact jaws, a movable blade member adapted to be inserted between said jaws, a pair of contact rollers rotatably supported lengthwise on opposite sides of said blade for engaging the exterior sides of said jaws incident to insertion of said blade member between said jaws, and means on said blade holding said contact rollers 1ielldably pressed in direction against said 2. In an electrical connecter, a contact member having a pair of jaws, a movable blade member having a contact portion arranged for insertion between said jaws into engagement therewith, contact rollers extending lengthwise of said blade member on opposite sides of the contact portion thereof to provide narrow spaces on both sides of the blade member into which said jaws may enter on insertion of said blade member between the jaws, blocks on opposite ends of said contact rollers for journaling the same, and spring means carried by said blade member for holding said blocks against said blade member to resiliently press said contact rollers against the exterior sides of said jaws.

HOWARD G. LAPSLEY. 

